by Scott M Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott M Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

Syracuse announced Saturday morning that senior forward James Southerland, the team's second leading scorer, is indefinitely ineligible.

"Due to an eligibility matter, senior James Southerland will not participate in competition until further notice," the school statement said. "Given university policy and federal student privacy laws, we are unable to provide any further details at this time."

Coincidentally, an eerily similar incident happened for Syracuse last January when the school revealed star center Fab Melo did not make the trip for a key Big East game. Melo, drafted by the Boston Celtics in last summer's NBA draft, missed three regular season games and eventually left Syracuse after being suspended for the NCAA tournament.

Melo's suspension was related to academic issues from the fall semester, leaving fans to suspect the same with Southerland. Multiple media outlets reported Southerland's suspension to be an academic issue.

"Student-athletes have to take responsibility for their eligibility," former Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said as an analyst on ESPN's halftime show for the Duke vs. N.C. State game. "It's hard to replace that senior experience."

Syracuse beat Villanova on Saturday 72-61 but missed Southerland's three-point shooting. The 6-8 streaky shooter who averages 13.6 points per contest, was shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. He scored 35 points in a game against Arkansas.